Ná nyárina mí istimor sa minya ohtaron yesetyanë nó ontalë Ardo etélië, nó ú nato avantië var alaurië palúrenna Ambaro, ar andavë Melkor túrëa. Nan endessë ohto sina, huorëa a valya fëa tullë vë tulco Valarin, háya menello istala mahtalë Pityanóressë, ar Arda enromanë nallámanen lalateryo. Sinavë tullë Polda Tulkas, aharya tulë vë aha ilwëo mornë lumbolínen nótulda. Melkor öantë et alassëa oromeryallo a hehtane Arda, ar i sérë andavë lartanë. Tulkas marnë Ambaressë a vë Valar Ardava, a Melkor erúmëa Morniëssë lartanë. Teviërya Tulkassenna vorima.
Mi lú sina, i Valar cantaner ëari a nóri ar oronti, san Yavanna rendë erdi ya ontanerentë andavello. San, an i nári túrinë var hehtinë nu minyë ambor, cálë penya. Maquentenen Yavanno, Aulë collë endessë ëarion atta altë calmë ya acárierontë, an fainintë Endórenna. Varda quanterentë, Manwë tintanerontë a Valar panyanententë altë tarmenna, analtë ilyë orontion yalmin erner. Minya ortana formenessë Endórëo, Illuin esserya, tatya hyarmenessë, Ormal, ar i cálë calmato Valariva untúpanë cemenna yassë ilqua calanë vë aurë ú metto.
San i erdi rérinë Yavannanen tuianer a tuimaner alarcavë, rimbë nation altë a pityë ortanë cemenenna, salqui a taurefalli a hallë filqui, ar aldar rínë fanyarinen vë cuinë oronti ya sundarenta unlantaner laiqua undómessë. Celvar tuller a nortaner nandissen, sírissen ar ailinissen, ar arta-lender lómin taurion. Ú lótëo er olohtië, ú aiwëo ilírië, an nati sinë lartaner lúmenta endassë Yavanno, nan úve asánieres, ar únomessë analya endenna Ambaro, massë alcar calmato ovantaner ar otuller. Alt’ Ailinessë, tolenna Almareno, mí lúmë ilqua vinya, mí lúmë sinya laiquassë er vë lúcë an hendi ontaroryon, Valar carner minya marenta, ar andavë aqua valini sinanen.
Martanë mi lúmë sina sa Valar sender mótalentallon a yétaner tuiyalë a palyalë nation asániërentë san ontiëntenta, Manwë tulcanë alta merendë yanna Valar a rimbenta tuller yelloryanen. Nan Aulë a Tulkas pícanë, an veuyaner ilya cururinen minyo a tuonen tatyo, lárvalta ar sérevalta. A Melkor sintë ilqua carina, arwa muinavë meldoron ar ettirnoron mí Maiar ya alantier nu sanyerya. Vahaia Morniëssë, néro sancë, milca an mótamar torniryo ya mernerontë nu máhanerya. San et erúmië taicarillon Eö hostanero i fëar hépinë an veuyalerya a sananeros polda. Sanala lúmerya túlina, antullero Ardanna, yétaneros hendunen ar i cenwë Ambaro tuileryassë quantes vinya teviënen.
I Valar hostainë Almarenna caurevalta a cálenen Iluino ú-cenner huinë Melkoro formenessë, utúliëro vë Mornië Lustëo. A ná nyarina sa merendessë Ardatuilëo Tulkas vestanë Nessa, seler Oromëo, a liltanerë nó Valar laiqua salquenna Almareno.
San Tulkas lantanë fúmessë, tuovalta ar iquista, a Melkor sananë i lúmë túlina. O hosserya lendero or Rambar Fuiva a tullë eccaira formenessë Endórëo a Valar ú istaner sina.
San yesetyanero unca talan an carë analta sarnë haira undu cemen, nu mornë oronti yassë alcar Iluineva pícanë a halcini. Essë sarnëo sina Utumno. Ar Valar ú istalaner sina er, úmëa Melkoro a uryala teviërya palunë tenna persa Tuilë Ardo.
yessesse : loc. sg. of yesse'beginning’.sanaron : gen. pl. of sana 'day’ (24 h).
1)Ná nyárina mí istimor sa minya ohtaron yesetyane nó ontale Ardo etélie, nó ú nato avantie var alaurie palúrenna Ambaro, ar andave Melkor túrea. 'It is said within the wise ones that the first of the wars began before the creation of Arda was achieved, before nothing had walked or grown on the surface of the Earth, and long Melkor was victorious.’
2)Nan endesse ohto sina, huorea a valya fea tulle ve tulco Valarin, háya menello istala mahtale Pityanóresse, ar Arda enromane nallámanen lalateryo. 'But in the middle of this war, a courageous and powerful spirit came like a support to the Valar, from the end of the sky knowing the battle in the Little Earth, and Arda resounded by the echoes of his laugh.’
3)Sinave tulle Polda Tulkas, aharya tule ve aha ilweo morne lumbolínen nótulda. 'Thus came Tulkas the Strong, his rage is like rage of the sky preceded by dark clouds.’
4)Melkor oante et alassea oromeryallo a hehtane Arda, ar i sére andave lartane. 'Melkor gone away from his joyful fury and abandoned Arda, and peace long lasted.’
5)Tulkas marne Ambaresse a ve Valar Ardava, a Melkor erúmea Morniesse lartane. 'Tulkas abode on the Earth and was like the Valar of Arda, and Melkor stood in the outer Darkness.’
6)Tevierya Tulkassenna vorima. 'His hatred of Tulkas was everlasting.’
7)Mi lú sina, i Valar cantaner eari a nóri ar oronti, san Yavanna rende erdi ya ontanerente andavello. 'In this time, the Valar shaped the seas and the lands and the mountains, then Yavanna sowed the seeds she had create a long time ago.’
8)San, an i nári túrine var hehtine nu minye ambor, cále penya. 'Then, for the fires were controlled or abandoned under the first hills, the light was lacking.’
9)Maquentenen Yavanno, Aulë colle endesse earion atta alte calme ya acárieronte, an faininte Endórenna. 'By the request of Yavanna, Aulë carried in the middle of the seas two large lamps he had made, for them to light the Middle Earth.’
10)Varda quanterente, Manwë tintaneronte a Valar panyanentente alte tarmenna, analte ilye orontion yalmin erner. 'Varda filled them, Manwë lighted them and the Valar fixed them upon large pillars, higher than all the mountain that remained for us.’
11)Minya ortana formenesse Endóreo, Illuin esserya, tatya hyarmenesse, Ormal, ar i cále calmato Valariva untúpane cemenna yasse ilqua calane ve aure ú metto. 'The first was raised in the North of Middle earth, its name was Illuin, the second in the south, Ormal, and the light of the Valar’s lamps covered down the earth where everything shined like a day with no end.’
12)San i erdi rérine Yavannanen tuianer a tuimaner alarcave, rimbe nation alte a pitye ortane cemenenna, salqui a taurefalli a halle filqui, ar aldar ríne fanyarinen ve cuine oronti ya sundarenta unlantaner laiqua undómesse. 'Then, the seeds sowed by Yavanna springed and sprouted swiftly, a crowd of things great and little raised on the earth, herbs and mosses and tall ferns, and tress crowned by clouds like living mountains which roots dived in the green twilight.’
13)Celvar tuller a nortaner nandissen, sírissen ar ailinissen, ar arta-lender lómin taurion. 'Animals came and dwelled in the valleys, in the rivers and in the lakes, and gone through the shade of the forests.’
14)Ú lóteo er olohtie, ú aiweo ilírie, an nati sine lartaner lúmenta endasse Yavanno, nan úve asánieres, ar únomesse analya endenna Ambaro, masse alcar calmato ovantaner ar otuller. 'No flower had sprouted yet, no bird had sung, for these things waited for their hour in the heart of Yavanna, but she had though of abundance, and nowhere more rich (than) in the middle of the Earth, where the rays of the two lamps met and jointed.’
15)Alt’ Ailinesse, tolenna Almareno, mí lúme ilqua vinya, mí lúme sinya laiquasse er ve lúce an hendi ontaroryon, Valar carner minya marenta, ar andave aqua valini sinanen. 'In the great lake, on the isle of Almaren, in the time everything was new, in the time the new greenness was like an enchantment to the eyes of its creators, the Valar made their first dwelling, and longtime were fully happy about that.’
16)Martane mi lúme sina sa Valar sender mótalentallon a yétaner tuiyale a palyale nation asánierente san ontiententa, Manwë tulcane alta merende yanna Valar a rimbenta tuller yelloryanen. 'It happened in this time that the Valar rested from their labours and looked at the growth and the expansion of the things they had though then created, Manwë established a great fest to which the Valar and their host came by his call.
17)Nan Aulë a Tulkas pícane, an veuyaner ilya cururinen minyo ar tuonen tatyo, lárvalta a sérevalta. 'But Aulë and Tulkas were lessened, for they served everybody by the skills of the first and the strength of the second, pauseless and restless.
18)A Melkor sinte ilqua carina, arwa muinave meldoron ar ettirnoron mí Maiar ya alantier nu sanyerya. 'And Melkor knew everything made, having secretly friends and spies within the Maiar which had fallen under his law.’
19)Vahaia Morniesse, néro sance, milca an mótamar torniryo ya merneronte nu máhanerya. 'Far away in the Darkness, he was hateful, greedy toward the works of his brothers which he had wanted under his authority.’
20)San et erúmie taicarillon Eö hostanero i fear hépine an veuyalerya a sananeros polda. 'Then out of the outermost limits of Eä he gathered the spirits kept for his service and he though he was strong.’
21)Sanala lúmerya túlina, antullero Ardanna, yétaneros hendunen ar i cenwe Ambaro tuileryasse quantes vinya tevienen. 'Thinking his hour come, he approached toward Arda, he looked at it by his eyes and the vision of the Earth in its spring filled him with a new hatred.’
Notes:
1.ná nyárina : 'It is said’ (ná present sg. of 'to be’ + past participle of nyar- 'to tell’). mí : 'in the’ . istimor : pl. of istimo 'wise one’. sa : 'that’. minya : 'first’. ohtaron : gen. pl. of ohta'war’.yesetyane : past sg. of yesetya-.nó : 'before’. *ontale : 'creation’ (< onta- 'to create’). Ardo : gen. of Arda.etélie : perfect sg. of telya 'to finish, to conclude’. ú nato : *'nothing’ (ú 'without, destitute of’ + gen. of nat'thing’).avantie : perfect sg. of vanta- 'to walk’. var : 'or’. alaurie : perfect sg. of laurya- 'to grow’. palúrenna : all. sg. of palúre'surface’.Ambaro : gen. sg. of Ambar 'the Earth’. andave : 'long’ (of time). *túrea : 'victorious, master’ (< túre : 'mastery, victory’).
2.nan : 'but’. endesse : loc. sg. of ende'middle’.ohto : gen. sg. of ohta'war’.sina : 'this’. *huorea : 'courageous’ (< huore : 'courage’). valya : 'having (divine) authority or power’, *'powerful’. fea : 'spirit’. tulle : past sg. of tul- 'to come’. ve : 'as, like’. tulco : 'support’. Valarin : dat. pl. of Vala.háya : 'far off’. menello : abl. sg. of menel 'the heavens’. istala : present participle of ista- 'to know’. *mahtale : 'battle, fighting’ (< mahta- : 'wield a weapon, fight’). Pityanóresse : loc. sg. of Pityanóre 'Small Realm’ (lit. 'Small Earth’). enromane : past sg. of *enroma- 'resound’ (< en-roma- : 'sound again’) - another possible form might be *ataroma.nallámanen : inst; sg. of nalláme'echo’.lalateryo : gen. sg. of *lalat(e) 'laugh’ (n.) (< v. lala- : 'to laugh’) + 3. person sg. possessive ending.
3.sinave : 'thus’. tulle : past sg. of tul- 'to come’. polda : 'strong’ (physically). aharya:aha 'rage’ + 3. person possessive ending. tule : aorist present sg. of tul- 'to come’. ve : 'as, like’. aha ilweo : 'rage of the heavens’, *'storm' (aha 'rage’ + gen. of menel'heavens’).morne : pl. of morna'dark’.lumbolínen : inst. partitive pl. of lumbo 'cloud’ (dark, low). nótulda : past participle of *nótul- : 'preceed’ (< nó-tul- : 'to come before’) - perhaps the form might be *nólinna ('to go before’).
4.oante : past sg. of auta 'to go away’. et : 'out of’ (+ abl.).alassea : 'joyful’. ormeryallo : abl. sg. of 'wrath’, with the 3. person possessive ending. hehtane : past sg. of hehta- 'abandon’. sére : 'peace’. andave : 'long’ (of time). lartane : past sg. of larta- 'last, wait’.
5.marne : past sg. of mar- 'abide’. Ambaresse : loc. sg. of Ambar 'the Earth’. ve : 'as, like’. Ardava : poss. sg. of Ardava.erúmea : 'outer, outermost’. morniesse : loc. sg. of mornie'darkness’.lartane : past sg. of larta- 'last, wait’.
6.tevierya:tevie 'hatred’ + 3. person possessive ending. Tulkassenen : all. sg. of Tulkas.tennoio : 'for ever’.
7.mi : 'in, within’. lú : 'a time, occasion’. cantaner : past pl. of canta- 'to shape’. eari : pl. of ear'sea’.nóri : pl. of nóre'land’.oronti : pl. of oron'mountain’.san : 'then’. rende : past sg. of rer- 'to sow’. erdi : pl. of erde 'seed, germ’. ya : 'which’. ontanerente : 3. person f. past sg. of onta- 'to create’ + 3. person pl. pronominal ending.
8.san : 'then’. an : 'for, to’. nári : pl. of náre : 'flame’. túrine : pl. past participle of tur- 'wield, control, govern’. var : 'or’. hehtine : pl. past participle of hehta- 'abadon, leave out’. nu : 'under’. minye : pl. of minya'first’.ambor : pl. of ambo'hill’.cále : 'light’. penya : 'lacking’.
9.maquentenen : inst. of *maquente 'request’ (< maquet- : 'to ask’). Yavanno : gen. sg. of Yavanna.colle : past sg. of col- : 'to bear, to carry’. endesse : loc. sg. of ende'middle’.earion : gen. pl. of ear'sea’.atta : 'two’. alte : pl. of alta 'large, great in size’. calme : pl. of calma 'lamp, a light’. ya : 'which’. acárieronte : 3. person m. perfect of car- 'to do, to make, to build’ + 3. person pl. pronominal ending. an : 'for, to’. faininte : 3. person pl. aorist present of faina- 'to emit light’. Endórenna : all. sg. of Endóre 'Middle Earth’.
10.quanterente : past. sg. of quat- 'to fill’ + 3. person pl. pronominal ending. tintaneronte : past sg. of tinta- 'to kindle, to make sparkle’ + 3. person pl. pronominal ending. panyanentente : past. pl. of panya- 'to fix, to set’ + 3. person pl. pronominal ending. alte : pl. of alta 'large, great in size’. tarmenna : all. pl. of tarma'pillar’.analte : pl. of analte 'higest’ (an-alta).ilye : pl. of ilya 'all, each, every’. orontion : gen. pl. of oron'mountain’.yalmin : 'which for us’ (ya 'which’ + 2. person. pl. dat. pronominal ending). erner : past pl. of er- 'remain’.
11.minya : 'first’. ortana : past participle of orta- 'to rise, to raise, to lift up’. formenesse : loc. sg. of formen'north’.Endóreo : gen. sg. of Endóre 'Middle earth’. esserya:esse 'name’ + 3. person sg. possessive ending. tatya : 'second’. hyarmenesse : loc. sg. of hyarmen'south’.cále : 'light’. calmato : gen. dual of calma 'lamp, a light’. Valariva : poss. pl. of Vala.untúpane : past. sg. of untúpa- 'cover down’ (un-túpa-).cemenna : all. sg. of cemen'earth’.yasse : 'in which’ (ya 'which’ + loc. sg. ending). ilqua : 'everything, all’. calane : past sg. of cala- 'to shine’. ve : 'as, like’. aure 'sunlight, day’. ú metto : 'without end’ (ú 'without, destitute of’ + gen. of metta'end’).
12.san : 'then’. erdi : pl. of erde 'seed, germ’. rérine : pl. past. participle of rer- 'to sow’. Yavannanen : inst. of Yavanna.tuianer : past pl. of tuia- 'to sprout, to spring’. tuimaner : past pl. of *tuima- 'to sprout, to bud’ (< n. tuima 'sprout, bud’). *alarcave : 'swiflty, quickly’ (< alarca 'swift, rapid’). rimbe : 'crowd, host, great number’. nation : gen. pl. of nat'thing’.alte : pl. of alta 'large, great in size’. pitye : pl. of pitya'little’.ortane : past sg. of orta 'to rise, to raise, to lift up’. cemenenna : all. sg. of cemen 'earth, soil’. salqui : pl. of salque'grass’.taurefalli : pl. of *taurefalle 'moss’ (taure-falle 'forest foam’). halle : pl. of halla'tall’.filqui : pl. of filque 'fern, bracken’ (filqe in David salo’s Qenya botany). aldar : pl. of alda'tree’.ríne : pl. of rína'crowned’.fanyarinen : inst. pl. of fanya'cloud’.ve : 'as, like’. cuine : pl. of cuina'alive’.oronti : pl. of oron'mountain’.ya : 'which’. sundarenta:sundar (pl. of sunda 'root, base’ + 3. person pl. possessive ending. unlantaner : past. pl. of *unlanta- 'dive’ (un-lanta- : lit. 'fall down’). laiqua : 'green’. undómesse : loc. sg. of undóme 'twilight (near evening)’.
13.celvar : pl. of celva 'animal, living thing that move’. tuller : past pl. of tul- 'to come’. nortaner : past pl. of norta- 'to dwell, to stay’. nandissen : loc. pl. of nande'valley’.sírissen : loc. pl. of síre'river’.ailinissen : loc. pl. of ailin 'pool, lake’. arta-lender : past. pl. of *arta-lelya- 'to go through’ (arta-lelya- : 'go through’). lómin : 'shade, shadow’. taurion : gen. pl. of taure ’(great) wood, forest’.
14.ú lóteo : 'no flower’ (ú 'without, destitute of’ + gen. of lóte'flower’).er : 'only, but, still’. olohtie : perfect sg. of lohta 'sprout, put forth leaves or flowers’. ú aiweo : 'no bird’ (ú 'without, destitute of’ + gen. of aiwe ’(small) bird’). ilírie : perfect sg. of lir- 'to chant, to sing’. an : 'for, to’. nati : pl. of nat'thing’.sine : pl. of sina'this’.lartaner : past pl. of larta- 'last, wait’. lúmenta:lúme 'time, hour’ + 3. person pl. possessive ending. endasse : loc. sg. of enda 'heart, center’. Yavanno : gen. sg. of Yavanna.nan : 'but’. úve : 'abondance, great quantity’. asánieres : perfect pl. of sana 'to think’ + 3 person f. sg. ending + 3. person sg. (object). únomesse : loc. sg. of *únome 'nowhere’ (ú-nome : 'no place’). analya:alya 'prosperous, rich, abundant, blessed’ + intensive prefix an-.endenna : all. sg. of ende 'core, center, middle’. Ambaro : gen. sg. of Ambar 'the Earth’. masse : 'where’. alcar : pl. of alca 'ray of light’. calmato : gen. dual pl. of calma 'lamp, a light’. ovantaner : past. pl. of ovanta-'to meet’. otuller : past pl. of *otul- 'to joint’ (o-tul- 'to come together’).
15.alt’:alta 'large, great in size’ (the last vowel is elided). ailinesse : loc. sg. of ailin 'pool, lake’. tolenna : all. sg. of tol 'island, isle’. Almareno : gen. sg. of Almaren.mí : 'in the’. lúme : 'time, hour’. ilqua : 'everything, all’. vinya : 'new’. sinya : 'new’. laiquasse : 'greenness’.er : 'only, but, still’. ve : 'as, like’. lúce : 'enchantment’. an : 'for, to’.hendi : pl. of hen'eye’.ontaroryon : gen. pl. of *ontaro 'creator’ (< onta- 'to create’) + 3. person sg. possessive ending. carner : past pl. of car- 'to make, to do, to build’. minya : 'first’. marenta:mar 'home, abode, dwelling’ + 3. person pl. possessive ending. andave : 'long’ (of time). aqua : 'fully, completely, altogether, wholly’. valini : pl. of valin'happy’.sinanen : 'by that’ (sina 'that’ + inst. sg. ending).
16.martane : past sg. of *marta- 'to happen’. mi lúme sina : 'in this thime’. sa : 'that’. sender : past pl. of ser- 'to rest’. mótalentallon : abl. pl. of *mótale 'labour’ (< v. móta- 'to labour’) + 3. person pl. possessive ending. yétaner : past pl. of yéta- 'to look’. *tuiyale : 'growth’ (< tuiya- 'to grow’). *palyale : 'expansion’ (< palya- 'to spread, to expand, to open wide’). nation : gen. pl. of nat'thing’.asánierente : perfect pl. of sana- 'to think’ + 3. person pl. ending (object). san : 'then’. ontierente : perfect pl. of onta- 'to create’ + 3. person pl. ending (object). tulcane : past pl. of tulca- 'to fix, establish’. alta 'large, great in size’. merende : 'fest’. yanna : 'to whiche, to whom’ (ya 'which’ + all. sg. ending). rimbenta:rimbe 'host’ + 3. person pl. possessive ending. tuller : past pl. of tul- 'to come’. yelloryanen : inst; sg. of yello 'call’ (shout or cry of triumph) + 3. person sg. possessive ending.
17.nan : 'but’. pícane : pl. past participle of píca- 'to lessen, to dwindle, waning’. an : 'for, toward’. veuyaner : past pl. of veuya- 'to serve, to follow’. ilquen : 'everybody’. cururinen : inst. pl. of curu'skill’.minyo : gen. sg. of minya 'first’ (adj. used as noun). tuonen : inst. sg. of tuo 'physical stenght’. tatyo : gen. sg. of tatya 'second’ (adj. used as noun). lárvalta : 'pauseless’ (lár 'pause’ + -valta’-less’).sérevalta : 'restless’ (sére 'rest, peace’ + -valta’-less’).
18.sinte : past sg. of ista 'to know’. ilqua ; 'everything’. carina : sg. past participle of car- 'to make’. arwa : 'possessing’ (+ gen.). *muinave : 'secretly’ (< muina 'hidden, secret’). meldoron : gen. pl. of meldo'friend’.ettirnoron : gen. pl. of ettirno 'spy’ (n.). mí : 'in the’. ya : 'which’. alantier : perfect pl. of lanta- 'to fall’. nu : 'under’. sanyerya:sanye 'rule, law’ + 3. person pl. possessive ending.
19.vahaia : 'far away’ (adj.). morniesse : loc. sg. of mornie'darkness’.néro : past sg. of na : 'to be’ + 3. person m. sg. ending. sance : 'hateful’. milca : 'greedy’. an : 'for, toward’. mótamar : pl. of *mótama 'work’ (< móta- 'to labour’). torniryo : gen. pl. of toron 'brother’ (pl. torni) + 3. person sg. possessive ending. ya : 'which’. merneronte : past sg. of mer- 'to wish, to desire, to want’ + 3. person sg. ending + 3. person pl. ending (object). nu : 'under’. máhanerya:máhan 'authority’ + 3. person sg. possessive ending.
20.san : 'then’. et : 'out of’ (+ abl.). erúmie : pl. of erúmea 'outer, outermost’. taicarillon : abl. pl. of taica 'limit, boundary’. Eo : gen. sg. of Ea.hostanero : past sg. of hosta- 'to assemble, to gather, to collect’ + 3. person m. sg. ending. fear : pl. of fea'spirit’.hépine : pl. past participle of hep- 'to keep, to hold’. an : 'for, toward’. veuyalerya : *veuyale 'service’ (< veuya- 'to serve, to follow’) + 3. person sg. possessive ending. sananeros : past sg. of sana 'to think’ + 3. person m. sg. ending + 3. person neutral sg. ending (object). polda : 'strong (physically)’.
21.sanala : present participle of sana 'to think’. lúmerya:lúme 'hour’ + 3. person sg. possessive ending. túlina : sg. past participle of tul- 'to come’. antullero : past sg. of *antul- 'approach’ (< an-tul- lit. 'to come toward’) + 3. person m. sg. ending. Ardanna : all. sg. of Arda.yétaneros : past sg. of yéta- 'to look at’ + 3. person m. sg. ending + 3. person neutral sg. ending (object). hendunen : inst. dual pl. of hen : 'eye’. *cenwe : 'vision, view’ (< cen- 'to see’). Ambaro : gen. sg. of Ambar 'the Earth’. tuileryasse : loc. sg. of tuile 'spring’ + 3. person sg. possessive ending. quantes : past sg. of quat- 'to fill’ + 3. person neutral sg. ending (object). vinya : 'new’. tevienen : inst. sg. of tevie'hatred’.
I recently wondered if there was a way to visualise some aspects of the phonological character of Quenya and Sindarin, and the differences between them. The following charts are based on the Namárië poem for Quenya and The King’s Letter for Sindarin. I did a broad phonological transcription for both, then ran frequency counts and relative frequencies on the phonemes. And here are some of the results!
1. Tolkien liked his alveolar stops! And whilst Quenya shows a preference for voiceless stops over voiced stops, the reverse is true of Sindarin.
Part of the reason why the Sindarin voiced stops are so prevalent is due to the extensive consonant mutation system of Sindarin. In the case of stop consonants, the soft mutation turns voiceless stops into voiced stops in certain phonological and/or grammatical environments.
2. Both Quenya and Sindarin prefer front vowels over back vowels, i.e. /i/ and /e/ are preferred over /u/ and /o/ (the Sindarin text happened not to have /u/ at all). The low vowel /ɑ/ is the most frequent vowel in both languages.
Tolkien wrote that in Quenya, the vowel sign for /ɑ/ was often left out in writing, e.g. calma ‘lamp’ could be written as clm (using the equivalent Elvish characters, of course!).
3. Quenya seems to be more vowel-heavy than Sindarin, but Sindarin’s consonants seem to have a larger proportion of liquids, nasals and fricatives … and Sindarin /n/ and /r/ are super-popular!
Almost half of the phonemes shown for Quenya are vowels, compared with two-fifths in Sindarin. As Tolkien wrote, Quenya words more often ended in a vowel, whilst those in Sindarin more often ended in a consonant.
In Sindarin, about two in seven phonemes (of those shown in the chart) is either /r/ or /n/! In Quenya, /n/ appears about twice as often as /m/, but in Sindarin, /n/ appears about seven times more often than /m/!
A secret vice - this was how J.R.R. Tolkien described his love of creating, crafting and changing his invented languages. With the popularity of his books and the modern film adaptations, the product of this vice is no longer as ‘secret’ as it once was – almost everyone will have heard of Elvish by now; some will have heard of Quenya and Sindarin; and a small number will have heard of more besides …
I started thinking about the theme of this post having read this article from the Guardian on constructed languages (or ‘conlangs’):
Conlangs can be used to add depth, character, culture, history among many other things, but I think that Tolkien’s invented languages are in a class apart from other famous invented languages, e.g. Klingon, Na’vi, Dothraki, Esperanto, etc.
What many people don’t know is that Tolkien’s Elvish languages weren’t ‘invented for’ the Lord of the Rings, or the Hobbit or even what was to become the Silmarillion. In fact, in many ways it is more accurate to say that these stories and legends were invented for the Elvish languages!
Tolkien’s Elvish languages began to grow at about the time of the First World War, and they continued to grow for the rest of Tolkien’s life. Tolkien gave to two of these languages, Sindarin and Quenya, the aesthetic of two of his favourite languages, Welsh and Finnish respectively. However, rather than develop comprehensive dictionaries and grammars of the Elvish languages, Tolkien approached their invention from a primarily historical and philological perspective – something that the other famous conlangs do not do to anywhere near the same extent.
Sindarin and Quenya were designed to be natural languages, i.e. languages with their own irregularities, quirks and oddities (like real-world languages) but whose peculiarities would make sense when looked at from a historical linguistic perspective. Furthermore, Sindarin and Quenya are related languages, i.e. they share a common (and invented!) ancestor. Whenever Tolkien compiled anything like a dictionary, it was more akin to an etymological dictionary or a list of primitive roots and affixes. He would build up a vocabulary using these roots and affixes then submit the results to various phonological changes (as well as language contact effects, borrowings, reanalyses, etc thrown in for good measure! Did you know that the Sindarin word heledh ‘glass’ was borrowed from Khuzdul (Dwarvish) kheled?). The result is a family of related languages and dialects.
But these languages and dialects needed speakers, and their speakers needed a history and a world in which this history could play out. Tolkien believed that language and myth were intimately related – the words of our language reflect the way we perceive the world and myths embody these perceptions and are couched in language, yielding a rich melting pot of associations. To appreciate something of what Tolkien might have felt consider the English names for the days of the week or the months of the year. Why do they have the names they do? What does this tell us about our heritage and cultural history? What does it say about what we used to think and feel about the world? Now imagine thinking like this about other words … I found out earlier this week that English lobster is from Old English lobbe+stre ‘spider(y) creature’ (incidentally, lobbe ‘spider’ provided Tolkien with the inspiration for Shelob, the giant spider from The Two Towers (or, if you’re more familiar with the films, The Return of the King)). That is the kind of philological delight Tolkien wanted Sindarin and Quenya to have, and they do (nai elyë hiruva)!
I found out Quenya has the exclusive we form, that is, you can conjugate verbs in a way that says “we do this, butyou specifically don’t”
And idk why it’s so funny to me to think of Feanor aggressively using that form whenever Fingolfin is around but it is
Considering Feanor’s linguistic career, how can we be sure he didn’t invent that form
Feanor: so I came up with a new way to conjugate verbs that we, but not Fingolfin, can use
“By using this conjugation you confirm that you are not Fingolfin, you are in no way affiliated with Fingolfin, you are not conjugating verbs on behalf of Fingolfin, or an associate of Fingolfin.”
First of all, I’m not dropping everything to write this particular book (I don’t know why people fear that). The “new” book is not as “new” as I am implying. The story (like the trilogy) is a long and winding one.
When I began outlining the Elves of Mirkwood, naturally people wonder “where are all these elves coming from. For example, it is no secret Thranduil’s cousin Elranduil married a Noldorin (Ardúin) and Thranduil’s wife is a Nandor (Danwaith)–the last of the remaining ones. Nearly all of the main characters have a back story (and after stories), so I had written part of those around the time I began The Kingdom of the Woodland Realm Trilogy. They were going to go into the Appendix (which at the time included Legolas’ Journals). When I changed the format of the book–having the story told by the four generation of elves–two being rulers and one being an heir to the Woodland Realm–I was free to do with the back stories what I wished–especially the one about the origins of Êlúriel.
It doesn’t have a title yet; it is not put together as well as the other books in the trilogy–even Legolas’ story is already planned from beginning to end. This new book will be part of the Appendix, unless it’s longer than 200 pages. There is a reason for that:
515 pages of Book II: The Saga of Thranduil (original version) is already a ream; its extended version will be at least 600pages in its final form and Book I and Book III are currently estimated to be 500-600pages each–then there’s the extended version of Book III which will more than likely be around 500-600pages long. When I put the trilogies together, that’s a lot of paper to add something 200+ pages long. I’m already over 1100 with Book I/Book II (both versions) not including Book III.
Tolkien’sThe Lord of the RingsTrilogy* in one volume is 1178 pages (including the Appendix; 1031w/o).So you can see I have a doorstop in the making. And even though this new “volume” will mesh with the trilogy (not unlike the STARZshowThe White Queen–based on three books by Philippa Gregory that tell three different sides of the same history; only in this case there’s several sides talking when you add Iarûr (Prologue of Book I) to the stories of Orothôn,Oropher,ThranduilandLegolas), I still have to decide at some point how long will it need to be to fit into the appendix or if it should just stand-alone.
I am still trying to decide whether to cut Book I in half as itself will contain two stories told by two elves–both crossing over at a pivotal event from one POV to another (hard to do especially I will have to eventually make that transition for all three of the original books). I do that, TKWRT won’t stand for TKWR TrilogybutTKWR Tetralogy. That won’t be decided until all three books are complete, though.
You are watching a novel in progress–I like to call it a reality show since readers are literally reading TKWR Trilogy in evolution. There’s is always something new coming around the corner and editing something like this requires someone that has flown over the Cuckoo’s Nest a few times and is literate in Tolkien Languages–especially Adûnaic. That hasn’t been added yet–nor has all of the Quenya. (Quenya is the hardest of the two Elven Languages known; That is why no one is out there selling “Learn Quenya” (even though Sindarin is Quendi for “Grey-Elven Language”). All the languages change with each new age/generation (as all languages do) which makes it impossible to say which “literary” version you are reading–and it gets worse with Tengwar where there’s far more to it than what most people think.
Adûnaic is harder still, even though Akallabêth is “The Down Fallen” in Adûnaic in The Silmarillion. What you get to read now is my “short-hand” for some things in Sindarin that may be translated eventually into Quenya–especially in Eryn Galen. Oropher didn’t like Sindarin at all (hence why it was unknown whether Thranduil spoke it). There is a reason Oropher didn’t like it and unless you adore reading thousands of pages of Tolkien’s notes in the form of 12+ volumes of Middle Earth History and his other works, you won’t find that reason (mostly because Oropher is in only one book of all books dealing with ME Histories by Tolkien and he’s somewhere else altogether)–hence the reason my book will have a very large bibliography. Yeah, this is an in-depth book I’m writing. I’m a glutton for punishment.
So, that’s it for now; back to work. I have a bunch of elves stuck in Ossiriand for a moment waiting for a few baby elves to be old enough to continue the journey into the West (by “west” I mean some will get lazy somewhere around Beleriand and hang out in Doriath with King Thingol and his Queen Melian). Also, I’ve been advised to use my real name in order to get the accounts for this book and myself verified ✅. Thranduil has come a long, long way from where he started.–JMM (Jaynaé Marie Miller).
*The Lord of the Rings is actually not a trilogy. It was originally supposed to be six books–a hexalogy, so to speak. In fact, in the table of contents, you’ll notice that each of the “books” has “two books” within them.
Yeah? And if one turned the face eastwards the left hand pointed right at Morgoth, and if southwards it pointed right towards Cuiviénen!
Oh right, I forgot that the East must always come with an evil alert/negativity attached to it.
And if the left hand was not considered ‘evil’ why is the word for ambidextrous still ‘double-righthanded’ (ataformaitë) and not something like ‘hya[r]formaitë’?
In the High-Elven tongue, the eighth month of the year was named Úrimë(Urui being its Sindarin equivalent). Now, the root úr— comes from the Quenya word úrë, meaning ‘heat’. From this, we can conclude that Úrimë was the month of hot weather.
July—another month gone by, and with that comes a new Elvish Lesson. So in the High-elven tongue, the seventh month of the year was named Cermië(Cerveth being its Sindarin equivalent). As to the meaning of that name, there are actually surprisingly few references. However, in my research I did discover that one of the meanings of the Quenya root ‘cerm’ is ‘to give’. By this, I’m assuming that Cermië was the month of harvest or plenty (though don’t take my word for it).
As for the above picture, July always reminds me of Lothlórien somehow.
June at last, which means summer is finally here! To celebrate (and because it has become a bit of a tradition on this blog) let’s do a bit of Elvish, shall we?
So, in the High-elven tongue, the sixth month of the year was named Nárië. (Nórui was its Sindarin equivalent.)
Now, the root nár—is a direct reference to the Quenya word for ‘fire’. In fact, one of the Three Elven Rings that Gandalf bore was named Narya (The Ring of Fire).
In this context, however, nár is most likely a reference to the heat of the Sun (which was named Anar in Quenya).
ThusNárië was the month that signified the coming of summer.
Speaking of May, did you know that the fifth month of the year was named Lótessë in the High-elven tongue? Lothron was its Sindarin equivalent. Both were derived from the Elvish root loth, meaning ‘flower’, in reference to the blossoming typically associated with this time of year.
For@fealiniel - my requests are open, so please do harass me
I tië oioleyla póna ar póna, Penda i andollo yestaryo. Sí vahaia i tië elennië, Ar merin hilya, qui polin, Roitala sa mínë talenten Tenna ótulis hoa tëanna Yassë rimbë tier ar vandar carir yomenienta Ar yassë tá? Uan lerta quetë.
I tië oioleyla póna ar póna, Penda i andollo yestaryo. Sí vahaia i tië elennië, Á lavë exi hilyar i polin! Á lavë ten lenda vinya mina, Mal métimavë lumbë talenten Queruvan i fainaina coanna, Sérenya andúnëo ar húmë carë
The Road goes ever on and on, Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.
The Road goes ever on and on Out from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, Let others follow it who can! Let them a journey new begin, But I at last with weary feet Will turn towards the lighted inn, My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
Celebrimbor, desperate, himself withstood Sauron on the steps of the great door of the Mírdain; but he was grappled and taken captive, and the House was ransacked. There Sauron took the Nine Rings and other lesser works of the Mírdain; but the Seven and the Three he could not find. Then Celebrimbor was put to torment, and Sauron learned from him where the Seven were bestowed. This Celebrimbor revealed, because neither the Seven nor the Nine did he value as he valued the Three; the Seven and the Nine were made with Sauron’s aid, whereas the Three were made by Celebrimbor alone, with a different power and purpose. Concerning the Three Rings Sauron could learn nothing from Celebrimbor; and he had him put to death. But he guessed the truth, that the Three had been committed to Elvish guardians: and that must mean to Galadriel and Gil-galad.
In black anger he turned back to battle; and bearing as a banner Celebrimbor’s body hung upon a pole, shot through with Orc-arrows, he turned upon the forces of Elrond.
***
Telperinquar, nirna, immo tyultanë Þauronna i ambalissen i andono Míretanoron, mal anes mapaina ar mól carna, ar i Coa né amaptaina. Tassë Þauron mapanë i Cormar Nertë ar exë nimpi tanwi Míretanor; mal i Otso ar i Neldë úmes hirë. Tá Telperinquar né nwalyaina, ar Þauron parnë sen yassë i Otso ner mandossë. Sina Telperinquar pantanë, an lá i Otso hya i Nertë namnes vë namnes i Neldë; i Otso ar i Nertë ner carnë i mánanen Þaurono, mal i Neldë ner carnë Telperinquárnen eressë, cévë túrenen ar telmanen. Cormaron Neldë, Þauron hanyanë munta Telperinquárello; ar nahtaneryes. Mal intyanes i anwanna, i Neldë ner antainë tirnoin Eldaliëo, ar sië Altariellen ar Artanáron.
Morë rúþessë lendes ohtanna; ar cólala vë tulwerya hroa Telperinquáro panyaina vandildë, quátina pilindinen urquion, quernes i hossenna Elerondo.
Some grammatical and housekeeping fixes - I put firyar into the dative (firyain), fixed the spelling of Heruin, deleted the unnecessary ‘ilyë’ after hiritantë and moved ‘avaleryatantë’ to after ‘i morniessë’ to improve the meter and match the original word order
Despite living in the Country of Extreme Sauron Bullshit for literally over a decade, I somehow never got around to this? IDK.
Cormar neldë i aranin Eldaron undu vilya Otso i heruin Naucaron hrótantassen ondova Nertë fírimë firyain qualmen martë Er Heru Mornan morna mahalmaryassë I Nóressë Mordoron yassë i huini lumnar Er Corma turitantë ilyë, Er Corma hiritantë Er Corma hostatantë ilyë, ar i morniessë avaleryatantë I Nóressë Mordoron yassë i huini lumnar
This still needs some polish, but it’s serviceable.
Lirnes lindë curuvarwa, Nastiéo, latiéo, úvórimarëo, Pantiéo, paliéo, vartiéo. Epeta Findaráto tassë soltola, Lirnë lindenen paniéo, Seliéo, mahtiéo túrenna, Fóli muinëon, túrëo vë mindo, Ar estel alarácina, eterúnamëo, uswëo; Ahiéo ar quaptiéo venwë, Remmar cennëon, rácinë neumaron, I mando latyala, i limil ya hatë. Pontinna ar pónanna cúnanë lindenta. Taltala quélala, vë vor ampoldavë I lirië tiunë, Findaráto mahtanë, Ar ilya ingolë ar túrë colles Eldamaro minna quettaryar. Mussivë i yarussë hlarnentë i aiwi Lindala vahaia Ostossë Findaráto, I cenië i ëaro ava, I númenya Palurin pella, litsessë, Litsessë marillava Eldamaressë. Tá i umbaressë hostaina; huinë túlala Valinoressë, i carnë sercë sírala Ara i ëar, yassë Ñoldor nahtaner Falmari, ar mápala tuncer Ninqui ciryantar ninqui lanníva Londellon calyainë calmainen. I þúrë rama, I ráca carë naulë. I alataquácor ramyar. I helcë nurru i antossen i ëaro. I móli nainala Angamandossë nyerë. Raumo lamya, i nári urya – Ar Findaráto ataltanë epë i mahalma.
He chanted a song of wizardry, Of piercing, opening, of treachery, Revealing, uncovering, betraying. Then sudden Felagund there swaying, Sang in a song of staying, Resisting, battling against power, Of secrets kept, strength like a tower, And trust unbroken, freedom, escape; Of changing and shifting shape, Of snares eluded, broken traps, The prison opening, the chain that snaps. Backwards and forwards swayed their song. Reeling foundering, as ever more strong The chanting swelled, Felagund fought, And all the magic and might he brought Of Elvenesse into his words. Softly in the gloom they heard the birds Singing afar in Nargothrond, The sighting of the Sea beyond, Beyond the western world, on sand, On sand of pearls on Elvenland. Then in the doom gathered; darkness growing In Valinor, the red blood flowing Beside the Sea, where the Noldor slew The Foamriders, and stealing drew Their white ships with their white sails From lamplit havens. The wind wails, The wolf howls. The ravens flee. The ice mutters in the mouths of the Sea. The captives sad in Angband mourn. Thunder rumbles, the fires burn- And Finrod fell before the throne.
At@snailbird ‘s request. Please ignore some, uh, tiny errors in the tengwar that I posted.
Lirnen lassion, lassion laureva, ar lassi laureva lohtanë: Þúrio lirnen, þúrë túlë ar i olvassen þúnë. Anar pella, Isil pella, i winga né i airessë, Ar ara i falassë Ilmarino tuianë laurë’ alda. Undu i eleni Oioþinyëo Eldamaressë calles, Eldamaressë ara i rambar Tirionwa Eldaron. Tanomë andë i laurië lassi arahtier loassen pantala, Sinomë i ëari hátala pella sí lantëar Eldaníri. A Lórien! I hrívë tulë, i helda ar úlassëa aurë; I lassi lantëar i sirildë, i sirya oar sirë. A Lórien! Andavë amárien Entarda sinassë Ar ríessë fifírula irícien i laurëa elanor. Mal qui ciryaron sí merin linda, mana cirya tuluva nin, Mana cirya atacoluva inyë olla ta palla ëar?
I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew: Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew. Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the Sea, And by the strand of Ilmarin there grew a golden Tree. Beneath the stars of Ever-eve in Eldamar it shone, In Eldamar beside the walls of Elven Tirion. There long the golden leaves have grown upon the branching years, While here beyond the Sundering Seas now fall the Elven-tears. O Lórien! The Winter comes, the bare and leafless Day; The leaves are falling in the stream, the River flows away. O Lórien! Too long I have dwelt upon this Hither Shore And in a fading crown have twined the golden elanor. But if of ships I now should sing, what ship would come to me, What ship would bear me ever back across so wide a Sea?
Lirnen lassion, lassion laureva, ar lassi laureva lohtanë: Lirnen: past tense of lir- (to sing), lirnë, + first person singular ending (-n) - I sang lassion: plural genitive of lassë (leaf) – about leaves lassion: plural genitive of lassë (leaf) – about leaves laureva: singular possessive of laurë (gold – indicating color or light, not the metal) - made of gold ar: conjunction – and lassi: nominative plural of lassë (leaf) – leaves laureva: singular possessive of laurë (gold – indicating color or light, not the metal) - made of gold lohtanë: past tense of lohta- (to sprout, to put forth leaves or flowers) – sprouted I sang about leaves, about leaves made of gold, and leaves made of gold sprouted
Þúrio lirnen, þúrë túlë ar i olvassen þúnë. Þúrio: singular genitive of þúrë (wind) – about wind lirnen: past tense of lir- (to sing), lirnë, + first person singular ending (-n) - I sang þúrë: nominative singular of þúrë – wind túlë: past tense of tul- (to come) – came ar: conjunction – and i: definite article – the olvassen: locative plural of olva (branch) – in branches þúnë: past tens of þúya- (to breathe) – breathed About wind I sang, wind came and in the branches breathed.
Anar pella, Isil pella, i winga né i airessë, Anar: nominative singular proper noun – The Sun pella: postposition – beyond Isil: nominative singular proper noun – The Moon pella: postposition – beyond i: definite article – the winga: nominative singular noun – foam or spray né: past tense of na (to be) – was i: definite article - the airesse: locative singular of airë (sea) – on sea Beyond the Sun, beyond the Moon, the foam was on the sea,
Ar ara i falassë Ilmarino tuianë laurë’ alda. Ar: conjunction – and ara: preposition - beside i: definite article - the falassë: nominative singular noun – shore or beach Ilmarino: genitive singular of proper noun Ilmarin – of Ilmarin tuianë: past tense of tuia- (to sprout or spring) – sprouted laurë’: singular adjective laurëa (golden), elided due to following vowel - golden alda: singular nominative noun – tree And beside the shore of Ilmarin sprouted (a) golden tree.
Undu i eleni Oioþinyëo Eldamaressë calles, Undu: preposition – under i: definite article - the eleni: nominative plural of elen (star) – stars Oioþinyëo: genitive singular compound noun, prefix oio- (ever) and þinyë (evening) – of Ever-Evening Eldamaressë: locative singular of proper noun Eldamar – in Eldamar calles: past tense of cal- (to shine), callë + third person singular ending (-s) – it shone Under the stars of Ever-Evening in Eldamar it shone,
Eldamaressë ara i rambar Tirionwa Eldaron. Eldamaressë: locative singular of proper noun Eldamar – in Eldamar ara: preposition – beside i: definite article - the rambar: nominative plural of ramba (wall) – walls Tirionwa: possessive singular of proper noun Tirion - belonging to Tirion Eldaron: genitive plural of Elda (elf) – of the Elves In Eldamar beside the walls of Tirion of the Elves.
Tanomë andë i laurië lassi arahtier loassen pantala, Tanomë: adverb – in that place andë: plural of adjective anda (long) – long i: definite article – the laurië: plural of adjective laurëa (golden) – golden lassi: nominative plural of noun lassë (leaf) – leaves arahtier: perfect tense of rahta- (to stretch out, to reach) – have stretched loassen: locative plural noun loa (year) – in years pantala: active participle of panta- (to spread out, to open) – spreading In that place long the golden leaves have stretched in spreading years,
Sinomë i ëari hátala pella sí lantëar Eldaníri. Sinomë: adverb – in this place i: definite article – the ëari: plural nominative of noun ëar (sea) – seas hátala: active participle of hat- (to break asunder) – sundering pella: postposition - beyond sí: adverb - now lantëar: present tense of lanta- (to fall), lantëa + plural ending (-r): are falling Eldaníri: nominative plural compound noun, Elda (Elf) + nírë (tear): Elf-tears In this place beyond the sundering seas now are falling Elf-tears.
A Lórien! I hrívë tulë, i helda ar úlassëa aurë; A: vocative particle – O Lórien: nominative singular noun – Lórien I: definite article – the hrívë: nominative singular noun - winter tulë: aorist of tul- (to come): comes i: definite article – the helda: adjective – stripped bare ar: conjunction – and úlassëa: singular adjective derived from lillassëa (having many leaves) by substituting the prefix lil- (more) for ú- (denying presence or possession of a thing or quality) – leafless aurë: nominative singular noun – day O Lórien! The winter comes, the bare and leafless day;
I lassi lantëar i sirildë, i sirya oar sirë. I: definite article – the lassi: nominative plural of lassë (leaf) – leaves lantëar: present tense of lanta- (to fall), lantëa + plural ending (-r): are falling i: definite article – the sirildë: locative singular of siril (rivulet) – in rivulet i: definite article – the sirya: nominative singular noun – river oar: adverb – away sirë: aorist of sir- (to flow) – flows The leaves are falling in the rivulet, the river flows away.
A Lórien! Andavë amárien Entarda sinassë A: vocative particle – O Lórien: nominative singular noun – Lórien Andavë: adverb - long, at great length amárien: perfect tense of mar- (to abide), amárië + first person singular ending (-n)- I have abided Entarda: undeclined proper noun (rule of the last declinable word moves its locative declension to the following adjective) - Thither Land (A Valinorean term for Middle Earth) sinassë: demonstrative adjective (this), with locative declension per rule of last declinable word: in this O Lórien! Very long I have abided in this Thither Land
Ar ríessë fifírula irícien i laurëa elanor. Ar: conjunction – and ríessë: locative of ríë (crown) - in (a) crown fifírula: active participle of fifíru- (to slowly fade) – fading irícien: perfect tense of ric- (to twist) irícië + first person singular ending (-n) – I have twisted i: definite article – the laurëa: singular adjective – golden elanor: nominative singular noun – elanor And in a fading crown I have twisted the golden elanor.
Mal qui ciryaron sí merin linda, mana cirya tuluva nin, Mal: conjunction – but qui: conjunction - if ciryaron: genitive plural of noun cirya (ship) – about ships sí: adverb - now merin: aorist of mer- (to wish, desire, want) merë (stem meri-) + first person singular ending (-n) – I wish linda: infinitive of linda- (to sing) – to sing mana: interrogative – what cirya: nominative singular noun – ship tuluva: future of tul- (to come) – will come nin: dative of independent first-person pronoun, ni - for me But if now about ships I wish to sing, what ship will come for me,
Mana cirya atacoluva inyë olla ta palla ëar? mana: interrogative – what cirya: nominative singular noun – ship atacoluva: compound verb from prefix ata- (again, a second time) and the future tense of col- (to bear or to carry), coluva – will carry again inyë: emphatic first-person pronoun (possibly invalid, but I had to use something) – even me, even I olla: preposition – over, beyond ta: adverb – so palla: singular adjective – wide, expansive ëar: nominative singular noun – sea What ship will carry even me again beyond so wide (a) sea?
But wherefore should Middle-earth remain for ever desolate and dark, whereas the Elves could make it as fair as Eressëa, nay even as Valinor? And since you have not returned thither, as you might, I perceive that you love this Middle-earth, as do I. Is it not then our task to labour together for its enrichment, and for the raising of all the Elven-kindreds that wander here untaught to the height of that power and knowledge which those have who are beyond the Sea?
Mal manan amartië i Endórë ëuva helda ar morna, ananta Eldar polir caretas vanima vë Eressëa, vá poluvantë caretas vë Valinórë? Ar pan úvaldë entuleta taranna, vë elertientë, cenin i melintë Endórë sina, vë melinyes. Ma castalva ná uo mótala ambautëryan, ar i ortien ilyë nórion Eldaron i ranyëa sinomë alaistima i tárienna tana túreva ar handeva ya haryantë i marir i ëar pella?
And, in case you’re wondering, this is my current Big Quenya Translation Project, which is proving really challenging, since I’m trying to give it things like rhyme and meter and structure…
I þara né laica, i lassi ner lenwë Sangwë lóti lohtaner vani ar hallë Calina né cenna latina nandesse I elenion sisílala lumbessë Tanomë Tindómerel liltala nesë Simpino úvelaina i lindalëssë Ar elenion cálë né finderyassë Ar larmaryassë né mirilyala silmë.
